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BRAIN ATHLETE SPORTZ

Showtime Sports’ Stephen Espinoza backs Jake Paul, answers to criticism for signing YouTuber

Like most things Jake Paul does, his venture into professional boxing has brought a good share of criticism.

The YouTube star has received plenty of heat throughout his 3-0 start in his professional boxing career. Paul has fought a fellow YouTube creator, a former NBA player in Nate Robinson, and most recently retired UFC fighter and former Bellator champion Ben Askren.

The 24-year-old has been a polarizing figure in the combat sports world given his immense platform and his controversial promotion. He’s been part of many online and personal beefs with many renowned MMA fighters such as Conor McGregor, Dillion Danis, Daniel Cormier, and others.

Recently, Paul and Showtime Sports were criticized by many hardcore combat sports fans for coming together to sign Paul to a multi-fight deal. Critics claim Paul is bad for boxing and it’s a way to ridicule the sport and its athletes who have fought for longer than Paul.

Speaking with MMA Junkie, Showtime Sports executive Stephen Espinoza addressed some of the criticism that came from signing Paul.

“Not everyone is going to like everything that we do,” Espinoza said. “Our goal is to serve the combat sports fan and that starts with young bucks on ShowBox, elite pay-per-view boxers, the addition of MMA through Bellator, and now this element.

“So the reality is that we’re a full-service place for the combat sports fan,” Espinoza explained. “You like documentaries, great. We have a great one on the four kings coming up, Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho. So the reality is that we’re trying to fill each bucket. Not everyone is going to like each bucket, but if it’s part of legitimate combat sports, we’re going to be participating at the top level.”

Paul is set to return to the ring on Aug. 28, as he’s set to take on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. It’s a big step up in competition for Paul, as Woodley is known for his punching power even at this late stage of his career.

Espinoza feels Paul’s stardom might blind people to his skill and commitment to the sport.

“I don’t think people realize how much time he spends on it and what a priority (he’s made it),” Espinoza said. “These guys are doing serious training camps, going to Puerto Rico, spending time. I know the guys who sparred with them, I know the guys who train them. Is he at the start of his career and does he have things he needs to work on? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a legitimate participant of the sport. It means he’s a young fighter, a young fighter with a huge following.”

“I think if it were any other following than social media, people wouldn’t give him a doubt,” Espinoza said. “If he made his name in the Olympics and then came in, then no one would ask questions. He just happened to make his name in social media and he’s a talented young athlete.”

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